Chris Sutton has come out and questioned whether or not Celtic should be trying to sign Marcelo Saracchi, after the Boca Juniors star’s successful loan spell in Glasgow came to an end…
The Uruguayan was brought to provide cover for Kieran Tierney
The Uruguayan was brought to the club last summer on a season-long loan deal, providing adequate back-up to Kieran Tierney throughout a bonkers campaign…
The former RB Leipzig full-back looked assured and experienced in the role, when deputising for the Scottish international, who was working his way back to peak fitness for a substantial amount of time on his return to Paradise.
Saracchi had his own injury problems
Saracchi then had his own injury problems throughout a chaotic season in Scotland, with the club dismissing two managers, hiring Martin O’Neill twice and discord between the supporters and Board.
Yes, Marcelo was witness to it all in his year in Scottish football, culminating in Martin O’Neill dragging the club over the finish line kicking and screaming.
Saracchi was even honoured by the Celtic manager during the title celebrations
Saracchi was even honoured by Martin during the title celebrations in the Parkhead dressing room, having played a pivotal role in the Daizen Maeda goal, which put us 2-1 up on the day and two points clear of Derek McInnes’ men, before Callum Osmand sealed the deal with the last kick of the football.
Signs seemed to suggest that Celtic wanted to keep Saracchi, but with no pre-agreed option-to-buy fee included in the deal which took Marcelo from Argentina to these shores, it meant the Hoops would have to start from scratch.
Celtic had been unable so far to agree a potential price
Various South American reports have claimed that Celtic had been unable to agree a potential price with his parent club Boca, and now the left-back is heading to Buenos Aires ahead of pre-season.
Sutton though, questioned whether or not Celtic should try and sign Saracchi permanently, citing poor defending one-on-one.
“Decent footballer, but not so sure he has the legs”
Speaking on the Warm-up, he posited: “Decent footballer, but not so sure he has the legs. He’s probably a better footballer than Kieran Tierney, in terms of when he goes into that inverted full-back role, he has better awareness of what’s around. But then, he’s not as good a one v one defender as Tierney.”
It’s an interesting take from Sutton on the Saracchi situation, which was quite surprising. Even Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith disagreed with the ex-Celtic striker on this one.
Saracchi’s ability to come inside
Criticisms of Saracchi’s one-on-one defending are merited, as there is no doubting Tierney’s superiority in that area of the game. However, Saracchi’s ability to come inside like Greg Taylor did previously, and link-up with the likes of Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren, is an excellent weapon to have in your arsenal.
Sometimes, the games which Celtic find themselves in require different approaches, which has been a bug-bear of the support for some time now, in terms of continuously doing things the same way.
Someone who can play the inverted full-back role
When Celtic camp in against that low block at times, that extra man in midfield becomes handy to have, meaning someone who can play the inverted full-back role could be invaluable at times.
Sutton does have a point, but then again, Tierney isn’t as good at the inverted role as Saracchi, it could also be argued…
What are your thoughts?
What are your thoughts? Does Sutton have grounds to say Celtic shouldn’t sign Marcelo Saracchi permanently? Or has the big fella got this one badly wrong, like hi prediction that Celtic wouldn’t win the league.
Let us know in the comments below…
Paul Gillespie
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2 Comments
Sarachi was mainly used as a sub. generally when Teirney’s legs had gone . Sarachi never let Celtic down despite being used sparingly by MON . Teirney’s fitness is a problem for Celtic and Sarachi is an able replacement —Sign him , if the price is right .
In squad building terms, I believe Saracchi is well worthy of holding a position within our squad building process required imo?
Tierney, had a very decent season, and played far more minutes than I expected. But there still remains the concerns when he goes down, as to whether, he will get back up again, with his injury record as it is.
Saracchi is a fine footballer within his own right also imo?
So in squad building, having 2 very decent players in place for the LB position is a must for ourselves, within the footballing calendar as it is.
Got no issues with Scales being considered as the 3rd choice option within the position either imo?
Within our squad building process, we are looking at 50 matches at least, within a season, which grows upon cup runs and international matches for a number of our players? So a 60 game season is what is potentially on offer for a good few of our players. But in reality, it’s still to many to expect players to be on top form in each and every game, especially with the demands that exists within our club?
So working on 2 decent players in each position, within our 25man European squad, has to try to be achieved? With the added bonus of a bit of flexibility within the 3rd choice option within positions, and helped even moreso from within, which Donovan was able to provide last season, as a B listed player?
The biggest problem still exists, with getting our 8 homegrown quota players, fitted into the squad building process, especially working on the 2 decent options in each position?
Using Doohan as a 3rd choice keeper, is only filling our homegrown quota, but potentially leaving ourselves short elsewhere within the process of squad building imo?
Having tried 7 options in the striker role alone last season, only highlights such an unbalanced approach taken last season, that has to be drastically improved upon by ourselves?
The quality factor within certain positions, is going to be a hurdle to try and overcome, like the differences between CCV and Murray in that regards?
But having no-one really available within the calmac role, was a problem, that MoN tried to resolve with the OX, but to late for European football?
Still believe that lennon Miller could be the solution for ourselves, especially with being Scottish, within our squad building process imo?
Again yang and forrest covering our right side, can do a job within the SPFL, but for European football?
Even if, we work on the assumption of 2 players in each position, with the squad completed by our 3 remaining Scottish players required, it still leaves 5 that are required in either 1st or 2nd choice within our squad building process? Hence the possibility of ralston, being required more so, than Julian, who again would be an excellent addition to ourselves, much in the manner Saracchi could be imo? But our 8 homegrown quota requirements could prevent such a deal even being considered?
So with 3 strikers required for ourselves, especially if Maeda moves on, with nothing readily available, of who is Scottish, places even more pressure upon our squad building department, especially if a place within our 25man squad isn’t available for the quality of player we require?
So for all the moaning that’s expected within our rebuilding over the summer?
Maybe it’s better to be looking at where we actually are going to fit our 8 homegrown players into our 25man European squad, before we start filling in the blanks imo?
Tierney and Saracchi could certainly do that for ourselves imo?
CCV and Murray is OK, with trusty and scales offering a bit of added flexibility also, out of there natural position?
Even AJ and Ralston, with Donovan isn’t the worst combination either?
Calmac and this expected to play every minute of every game has to be addressed for next season imo, especially as we still need suitable cover in whatever role he is going to be expected to play, if any next season?
Outside of that, the problems really begin, if Doohan is going to be a 3rd choice keeper, with a requirement for the 3rd choice striker?
Which in turn potentially means McCowan and forrest would have to be considered as 1st or 2nd choices within our 25man European squad building process?
Maybe Sutton time would be better served, looking at the overall squad building process, than trying to nit pick upon hopefully easier decisions that could be fulfilled for ourselves, in what Saracchi is proven, in what he can provide to ourselves?
Hopefully it is a deal that can get concluded for Saracchi imo? Especially as we have far more pressing matters that have to be considered within our squad building process imo?